Bottle wrapper



BOTTLE WRAPPER Filed June 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS March 13,1934. A. F. HOFFMAN ET AL BOTTLE WRAPPER Filed June 24 1932 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I I lggrrog Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNETED STATESPATENT OFFWE' BOTTLE WRAPPER Application June 24, 1932, Serial No.619,030

16 Claims.

This invention relates to package wrappers and has particular referenceto a wrapper for beverage ott es- Beverage bottles are frequentlycarelessly handied so .thatthey do not retain the fresh, clean andsanitary appearance that they had when they were supplied by themanufacturer and the labels arefi equently smudged, scarred or torn, sothat the-product is not inviting and the purchaser may have some doubtas to its freshness and cleanliness. Also, beverage bottles as usuallyprovided, are not tamper-proof and may be readily re-filled with aninferior product without the knowledge and to the detriment of theoriginal manufacturer and the consumer.

In; aecordance with the present invention, a bottle .wrapperis providedwhich completely encloses the bottle so that it remains sanitary andfresh and attractive in appearance; which renders the producttamper-proof by making it unopenable without mutilating the wrapper sothat the bottle cannot be re-filled without detection by the ultimateconsumer; and which renders the product more attractive in appearanceand immediately identifies the manufacturer of the product by itsdistinctive coloring or design.

The new bottle wrapper comprises a sheet of paper or other flexiblematerial, preferably parchment, which is wrapped around thebottle,sealed longitudinally along the seam, folded and sealed underthe bottomof the bottle, regularly folded or pleated intofrustro-conical shapearound the converging neck of the bottle, and gathered and twisted atits upper edge over the cap or closure of the bottle. The pleats of thewrapper are folded down upon the necl; of the bottle in acounter-clockwise direction as seen from above, so that the fingers ofthe right hand which grasps thebottlewill not catch in the folds of thepleats.

. The twisted upper edge of the wrapper is preferably severedsubstantially flush with the surface of the closure or cap, and a hoodof heavy paper, parchment, or the like, is placed over the closure orcap so as to enclose the latter, and is then positively secured to thewrapper.

In the preferred arrangement, the skirt of the hood is positivelysecured to the wrapper by separate fastening means such as wire staples,which are passed through the paper of the hood and Q wrapper, and areclinched on the neck of the dicates that the product has been tamperedwith,

and the consumer is accordingly warned by the appearance of the wrapperor the absence or the wrapper, that he is probably not obtaining theproduct which he desires, unless it is removed his presence.

The wrapper may be broken simply by remove ing the hood, whichaccordingly mutilates the wrapper in the manner described, so thataccess. to the bottle may be had. As an auxiliary or ad ditional wrapperopening means, a cord is asso ciated with the wrapper in such a way thatwhen the cord is pulled the wrapper is slit to expose the bottle forremoval from the wrapper. An advertising booklet, coupon, or the like,is also preferably provided within, the wrapper a acent the cord, sothat it falls out through the slit in the wrapper when the cord ispulled.

It will be seen that the new wrapper of this, invention maintainsthebottle in its original sanitary condition, preserves the clean and.fresh appearance of the bottle and its labels, and enables. themanufacturer to employ labels having more delicate and attractivedecoration and coloring than would be possible if the label were not.prorf tected by the wrapper. The wrapper, being formed of water-proofmaterial and. sealed. with water-proof glue, permits the placing. of.the wrapped bottle directly in cracked ice. orthe like without materialsoftening or disintegration ofthe wrapper r fading, loosening ordisintegration of the label on the bottle.

Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent uponexamination of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a bottle enclosed in the wrapper of this invention;

Fig. 2 is another view thereof showing the means for opening thewrapper;

Fig. 3 illustrates the wrapperpartially folded around the bottle;

Fig. 4 illustrates the upper end of the wrapper before the twisted endthereof is severed;

Fig. 5 is a view of the bottom of the wrapper;

Fig. 6 is a section through the upper portion of the wrapped bottle asseen. along the line 6-:6'of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section through the upper portion of thewrapped bottle;

Fig. 8 is a development of the hood;

Fig. 9 illustrates the wrapper sheet before it is applied to the bottle;and

Fig. 10 illustrates the lines along which the wrapper sheet is pleatedwhen it is applied to the bottle.

Thewrapper sheet is made of suitable tough ion and strong material whichis also preferably water-proof, such as parchment or the like.

As illustrated in Fig. 9, the wrapper sheet is provided adjacent oneedge with a longitudinal cord 21, which is stitched through the sheet attwo points adjacent its upper and lower edges in such a way that thecord 21 lies upon one surface of the wrapper and projects therethroughto provide the two loops 22 and 23.

The wrapper sheet 20 is rolled around the bottle B and the overlappingedges thereof are secured together by water-proof glue to form the joint24 indicated in Fig. 1. The lower edge of the cylindrical wrapper isfolded four ways as indicated in Fig. 5 and the folds are securedtogether by water-proof glue. As indicated in Fig. 5, the lower loop 22of the cord 21 is folded in the bottom and is secured by the overlap ofan adjacent fold so that it cannot be displaced therefrom. It is notedthat the wrapper sheet 20 is wrapped around the bottle B in such a waythat the cord 21 lies within the wrapper and the upper loop 23 projectsfrom the upper portion thereof as indicated in Fig. 3.

When the wrapper is in this partially folded condition, an advertisingbooklet 25 or the like, is dropped into the open end of the wrapper soas to lodge between the inner wall of the wrapper and the shoulder ofthe bottle B behind the cord 21, as is indicated in Fig. 2.

That portion of the wrapper sheet 20 which extends above the shoulder orbeginning of the neck of the bottle B is then regularly folded orpleated as indicated in Fig. 10, ten regular pleats being preferable fora bottle of usual size. As indicated in Fig. 10, these pleats 26 taperupwardly and are joined by V-shaped gussets or gores 26 which are foldedinwardly when the pleats are formed. The pleats provide that portion ofthe wrapper extending over the shoulder of the bottle to the cap thereofwith a substantially frusto-conical shape as is illustrated in Fig. 4.The pleats 26 are all directed in the same direction, preferably in acounter-clockwise direction as seen from above. This arrangement of thepleats 26 is illustrated in Fig. 6 and prevents the fingers of the righthand from catching in the folds of the pleats when the package isgrasped.

The upper edge of the wrapper sheet 20 is gathered over the cap or otherclosure C of the bottle B and is twisted tightly to draw the wrapperclosely around the bottle and the pleated portion thereof tight andstraight. This leaves the twist or pigtail 27 at the top of the wrappersheet 20, which is subsequently severed substantially flush with theupper surface of the cap C, as is indicated by the line XX in Fig. 4.The stiffness and tight folds of the wrapper sheet 20 over the cap Cprevent it from spreading after the twist 27 has been severed therefrom.This condition of the wrapper sheet is illustrated in Fig. '7.

Placed over the upper end of the wrapper so as to enclose it and the topof the bottle is a hood 28, which is preferably formed of heavy flexiblematerial, such as parchment or the like. While any form of hood may beused with equal facility, the form illustrated in opened form in Fig. 8is preferred. The hood 28 comprises a central portion 29, which overliesthe cap 0 and that portion of the wrapper sheet remaining folded overthe cap, and a series of lobes 30 and 31, which are defined jointly bycut-away portions of the material of the hood and by short pleats 32.The

pleats 32 conform to the curvature of the edge of the cap C and preventtearing of the hood between the lobes 30 and 31. The lobes 31 arepreferably of rectangular shape and overlap the lobes 30 which aregenerally triangular in shape.

When the lobes 30 and 31 are folded down upon the corresponding portionof the wrapper sheet, the folds thereof are substantially parallel orvertical as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and are so arranged and are ofsuch dimension as to conform to or merge with the pleats 26 of thewrapper sheet, as is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. This cooperationbetween the pleats 26 of the wrapper and the folds of the skirt of thehood 28 provides the wrapper with a pleasing and tailored appearance.While the hood 28 is preferably formed with cutaway portions asindicated in Fig. 8, it may be pleated from the center portion 29 to theedge of the skirt, so long as the folds or pleats thereof conform to oralign with the pleats 26 of the wrapper sheet.

The skirt of the hood 28, formed by the overlapping lobes 30 and 31 ispositively secured to the corresponding portion of the wrapper which itoverlies by separate fastening means which preferably comprise wirestaples 33, indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 7. These staples are preferablyU-shaped, and the tines thereof are forced through the lobes 31, theedges of the lobes 30 which are overlapped by the lobes 31, and thecorresponding portion of the wrapper sheet. The smooth, curved surfaceof the neck of the bottle B serves as an anvil against which the tinesof the staples 33 are clinched.

It will be seen that the staples 33 not only secure the skirt of thehood to the wrapper, but also secure the adjacent folds or lobes of thehood together so that the skirt of the hood closely engages and gripsthe neck of the bottle B. The staples 33 are preferably positioned belowthe bead B on the bottle B when the wrapper is applied to beveragebottles or other bottles having such a bead.

One of the lobes of the hood 28, preferably one of the triangular lobes30, is provided with a tab 3 1, and is perforated or weakened at 35 frompoints adjacent the edge of the tab 34 approximately to the edge of thecenter portion 29 of the hood 28, whereby the hood may be torn openprior to displacement from the wrapper. It is noted that any furtherdisplacement or disturbance of the hood 28 causes the staples 33 to tearout of or tear the wrapper and thus mutilate the latter.

The wrapper is applied to the bottle B or other product in the mannerdescribed and provides a sanitary enclosure therefor, which cannot beopened without at least partial mutilation of the wrapper, thusindicating that the wrapper has been tampered with. This is so becausethe hood 28 is positively secured to the wrapper by staples 33 and whenit is sought to remove the hood, the staples tear out or tear thewrapper in the manner described. The wrapper is accordinglytamper-proof.

The tab 84 and the scored, perforated or weakened lines 35 adjacent thetab are provided for opening the wrapper. The user pulls on the tab 34to tear the hood a sufficient amount so that he can insert his fingerunder the edge of the hood and wrench it off of the wrapper, whichaccordingly opens the upper end of the wrapper and permits access to thecap C.

The wrapper-opening tab will be sufiicient for ordinary purposes but maybe supplemented by or substituted by the cord 21 which splits thewrapper lengthwise from top to bottom when the loop 23 thereof ispulled. When the wrapper is split in this way, the advertising booklet,couponyor the like, 25, falls out of the wrapper through thesplittherein and invites the attention' of the user to the contents ofthe booklet, coupon, orthe like.

Thewrapper is preferably attractively decorated with distinctivedesigns, coloring and the like, which distinguish one manufacturers ordistributors product from those of another, identify the variousproducts of the same manufacturer, and the like. Inasmuch as the wrapperis made of substantially water-proof material and sealed withwater-proof glue, the entire package, including the wrapper, may beplaced directly in crushed ice, or the like, without material damage tothe wrapper or to the label on the bottlewithin the wrapper. Also, thepleats 26 are arranged so that a right-handed person may readily graspthe package without catching his fingers in the folds of the pleats.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed herein, it

is to be understood that the invention is not lim ited thereby but issusceptible of changes in form and detail within its scope. For example,fastening means other than staples may be used for securing the hood andwrapper together in such a way that the hood cannot be displaced orotherwise tampered with without mutilating or otherwise indicating itsdisturbance to at least an appreciable extent. Also, the fastening meansmay be located at various places on the skirt of the hood to perform thesame or similar functions described.

We claim:

1. In a wrapper for an article of merchandise, the combination of asheet of flexible material enclosing the article and gathered at one endthereof, a hood of flexible material enclosing the gathered portions ofthe sheet and the corresponding end of the article and having a skirtextending partially down the side thereof, and means positively securingthe skirt of the l cod and the web together around th article, wherebydisplacement of the hood breaks the sheet.

2. In a wrapper for an article of merchandise, the combination of asheet of flexible material enclosing the article and gathered at one endthereof, a hood of flexible material enclosing the gathered portion ofthe sheet and the corresponding end of the article and having a skirtoverlapping the sides of the article, and means positively securing theskirt of the hood and the sheet together around the article and passingthrough at least one of them.

3, In a wrapper for an article of merchandise having a closure, thecombination of a sheet of flexible material enclosing the article, ahood of flexible material enclosing that portion of the sheet overlyingthe closure of the article and having a skirt overlapping the sides ofthe article, and means positively securing the skirt of the hood and thesheet together around the article.

4. In a wrapper for an article of merchandise having a closure, thecombination of a sheet of flexible material enclosing the article, ahood of flexible material on thatportion of the sheet overlying theclosure of the article and hav'mg a skirt overlapping the sides of thearticle, and means passing through the skirt of the hood and the sheetfor positively securing them together around the article.

5. In a wrapper for an" article of merchandise having a closure, thecombination of a sheet of flexible material enclosing the article andgath-f ered at the closure thereof, a hood of flexible ma terialenclosing the gathered portion of the sheet and having a skirtoverlapping the sides of the article, and a fastening member passingthrough the skirt of the hood and the sheet for positively securing themtogether around the article.

6. In a bottle wrapper, the combination of a sheet of flexible materialwrapped around the bottle and gath red at its upper edge adjacent thestopper of the bottle, a hood enclosing the said gathered. edge of thesheet and the upper portion of the neck of the bottle including thestopper thereof and having a skirt overlapping the neck of the battle,and means positively securing the skirt of the hood to the sheet at apoint below the mouth of the bottle and around the neck thereof, wherebydisplacement of the hood inutiiates the sheet.

1. In a bottle wrapper, the combination of a sheet of flexible materialrelied lengthwise around the bottle and gathered under the bottom andadjacent the closure thereof, a hood of flexible material enclosing themouth of the bottle and overlying the corresponding portion of thesheet, the skirt of the hood surrounding the neck of the bottle, andstaples passing through the hood and sheet for positively sec-a lng themtogether around the neck of the bottle.

In a bottle wrapper, the combination of a sheet of flexible materialrolled lengthwise around the bottle and gathered under the bottom andadjacent the closure thereof, the sheet being pleated around the neck ofthe bottle, and a hood of flexible material enclosing the mouth of thebottle with the skirt of the hood surrounding the neck of the bottle,said skirt having folds substantially confornnng to the pleats of thecontiguous portion of the sheet which the skirt overlies.

9. In a bottle wrapper, the combination of a sheet of flexible materialrolled lengthwise around the bottle and gathered under the bottom andadjacent the closure thereof, a hood of flexible material enclosing themouth of the bottle, the skirt of said hood being plurally folded toconform to the shape of the corresponding portion of the bottle, andfastening means securing at least part of the folds of the hood skirt tothe underlying sheet.

10. In a bottle wrapper, the combination of a sheet of flexible materialrolled lengthwise around the bottle and gathered under the bottom andadjacent the closure thereof, a hood of flexible material enclosing themouth of the bottle, the skirt of the hood being plurally folded toconform to the shape of the corresponding portion of the bottle, andfastening means securing adjacent folds of the hood skirt together andto the underlying sheet.

ll. In a bottle wrapper, the combination of a sheet of flexible materialrolled lengthwise around the bottle and gathered under the bottom andadjacent the closure thereof, a hood of flexible material enclosing themouth of the bottle, the skirt of the hood being plurally pleated toconform to the shape of the corresponding portion of the bottle, andfastening means securing at least part of the pleats of the hood skirtto the underlying sheet.

12. In a bottle wrapper, the combination of a sheet of flexible materialrolled lengthwise around the bottle and gathered under the bottom andadjacent the closure thereof, a hood of flexible material enclosing themouth of the bottle, the

skirt of the hood being slit and folded down to conform to the shape ofthe corresponding portion of the bottle, and fastening means securing atleast part of the folds of the hood skirt to the underlying sheet.

13. In a bottle wrapper, the combination of a sheet of flexible materialrolled lengthwise around the bottle and gathered under the bottom andadjacent the closure thereof, a hood of flexible material enclosing themouth of the bottle and having a skirt surrounding the neck of thebottle, fastening means positively securing the hood skirt around theneck of the bottle, and a tab on the hood for rupturing the hood todisplace the same.

14. In a bottle wrapper, the combination of a sheet of flexible materialrolled lengthwise around the bottle and gathered under the bottom andadjacent the closure thereof, and a cord secured at one end in thegathered portion of the wrapper at one end of the bottle and projectingfrom the wrapepr at a point spaced from the other end of the bottle forslitting the Wrapper.

15. In a wrapper for a bottle having a neck of smaller outside diameterthan the upper portion of the bottle, the combination of a sheet offlexible material rolled around the bottle and gathered above thereduced neck of the bottle and under the, bottom thereof, a hoodenclosing the upper end of the bottle and sheet with its skirt gatheredaround the neck of the bottle below the enlarged upper portion thereof,and fastening members securing the gathered portions of the skirt of thehood tightly around the reduced neck of the bottle and its overlappingsheet, whereby access to the upper end of the bottle without rupturingthe hood is prevented.

16. In a wrapper for a bottle having a neck of smaller outside diameterthan the upper portion of the bottle, the combination of a cover offlexible material enveloping the lower portion of the bottle andgathered above the reduced neck thereof, a hood enclosing the upper endof the bottle with its depending skirt overlapping the upper end of thecover and gathered around the neck of the bottle below the enlargedupper end thereof, and fastening means securing the gathered portions ofthe skirt of the hood tightly around the reduced neck of the bottle andits overlapping cover, whereby access to the upper end of the bottlewithout at least partially displacing the hood is prevented.

ALBERT F. HOFFMAN.

HAROLD E. RUE.

